What happens when the family we imagined is not the family we received? In this episode, we turn to Parashat Vayechi and Yaakov’s final blessings to explore one of the most tender challenges of parenthood and grandparenthood. Learning how to bless the children and grandchildren we actually have, not the ones we once dreamed of. Yaakov does not offer equal or idealized blessings. He sees his children clearly, with honesty, disappointment, love, and courage. Through the crossed hands of Ephraim and Menashe, we learn that blessing is not about control or approval, but about truly seeing who stands before us. This episode speaks directly to grandparents navigating differences in values, religious choices, family structures, and life paths. It offers a compassionate reframe for grief, pride, and love that often coexist, along with practical reflections for blessing without fixing. If you have ever felt proud and heartbroken at the same time, this episode is for you. A powerful conversation about legacy, letting go, and the kind of love that makes room for who our descendants are becoming. More information: Grandplan.kit.com Legacy Coaching Call – one-on-one time to join me in dreaming big and transforming you.​Book Now​ Did you enjoy this week's Podcast: Connecting Jewish Grandparents​Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast​Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple​YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog​ Grandparenting Quiz ​– What type of Jewish Grandparent are you?Find out here!​​ Grandparent Circle – join our online community​​bit.ly/GrandPCommunity​ ​  

Moving closer to your grandchildren is often framed as the ultimate act of love. But what happens when that gift slowly becomes a loss of freedom, identity, or voice? In this episode on Parashat Vayigash, we examine Yaakov’s descent to Egypt as both a reunion and the beginning of bondage. What starts as safety, abundance, and family closeness quietly turns into dependency and constraint. It is a story many grandparents recognize today. This conversation explores the unspoken emotional costs of relocating for family, the joy of being needed, the danger of over-sacrifice, and how love can turn into obligation when boundaries are not named. Whether you are considering a move, have already relocated, or feel torn between gratitude and resentment, this episode offers Torah-rooted insight and practical wisdom for staying connected without losing yourself. Honest. Uncomfortable. Essential listening for grandparents navigating proximity, purpose, and choice. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland

This week’s podcast is a special Hanukkah episode for grandparents who are holding both joy and grief at the same time. Hanukkah is not a holiday of easy happiness. It is a holiday of fragile light, lit precisely when the world feels uncertain. In this episode, we explore what grandparents uniquely offer during moments like these: emotional safety, ritual, continuity, and love. We talk about how simple acts, lighting candles, music, comfort foods, sharing stories, and creating warmth, shape how children experience Jewish life and resilience. This is not about pretending everything is okay. It is about choosing presence, meaning, and connection anyway. If you are a grandparent wondering how to celebrate Hanukkah with intention, comfort your grandchildren, and model Jewish strength without fear, this episode is for you. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland FREE Hanukkah Gift: https://grandplan.kit.com/hanukkahfun Listen now for practical ideas, gentle reflections, and a reminder that your light matters more than you may realize.

Discover the deeper meaning of Yosef’s dreams and Yaakov’s powerful choice to “guard the matter.” This Vayeshev episode explores how grandparents can protect and nurture the dreams that shape a family’s identity. Learn how to hold hope through uncertainty, how to model resilience for your grandchildren, and how to turn your inner dreams into a living legacy they will carry forward. If you want to raise grandchildren who feel rooted, inspired, and connected, this episode will guide you through Torah themes toward guarding the dreams that matter most. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland FREE Hanukkah Gift: https://grandplan.kit.com/hanukkahfun

This week’s episode (19) explores Parashat Vayishlach and the extraordinary reconciliation between Jacob and Esau (Yaakov and Eisav). Their reunion offers a powerful method for healing conflict in our own families today. We break down the three-step process hidden in the parasha: creating emotional safety, seeking help and reframing internally, and offering a meaningful gesture that honors the other person’s dignity. Drawing on both Torah wisdom and modern research on conflict repair, Sharona speaks to grandparents, parents, and anyone longing to rebuild closeness. If you are navigating tension or distance with family, this framework brings hope, clarity, and a gentle path forward. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity

Grandparenting from a distance is not just a logistical challenge. It is an emotional and spiritual one too. In this episode on Parshat Vayetzei, I explore what Jacob’s lonely journey teaches us about long-distance grandparenting. How do we stay present when we cannot show up physically? Inside this episode you will hear: • A Torah perspective on distance and legacy • The emotional reality of being a faraway grandparent • Practical ideas for staying connected across miles • A new way to think about your sacred role My Free Hanukkah Present for you and your grandchildren: grandplan.kit.com/hanukkahfun Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy 18 Questions for Connection -Bring more joy and life to every conversation: https://grandplan.kit.com/questions Visit the Grand Plan Website: bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity Want to discover your Jewish Grandparenting style? Take the free personality quiz: https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Stay tuned with Connecting Jewish Grandparents: Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog

In this week’s episode, we explore Parashat Toldot through the lens of Family of Origin how the emotional patterns, communication styles, and unspoken rules we grew up with still shape the way we grandparent today. Using the stories of Yitzchak, Rivkah, Yaakov, and Eisav, we look at how inherited family dynamics influence relationships with our adult children, our children in law, and our grandchildren. This episode offers practical insights on breaking old patterns, strengthening connections, and creating a healthier legacy for the next generation. Perfect for grandparents, parents, and anyone curious about how family stories are formed and transformed. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy 18 Questions for Connection -Bring more joy and life to every conversation: https://grandplan.kit.com/questions Visit the Grand Plan Website: bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity Want to discover your Jewish Grandparenting style? Take the free personality quiz: https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Stay tuned with Connecting Jewish Grandparents: Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog

In Parashat Chayei Sarah, we say goodbye to Avraham and Sarah, our first Jewish grandparents. But at the time of their passing, their influence on Yitzchak is unclear, leaving us to wonder: How do we know if our legacy is lasting? This episode explores the challenge every grandparent faces — not always knowing how our children absorb our love and values, yet still having the chance to shape future generations. We discuss how to intentionally leave a meaningful legacy, with practical tips and conversation prompts to deepen connection with your grandchildren today. Perfect for grandparents, parents, and Jewish families who want to strengthen intergenerational bonds, share values, and pass on traditions Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy 18 Questions for Connection -Bring more joy and life to every conversation: https://grandplan.kit.com/questions Visit the Grand Plan Website: bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity Want to discover your Jewish Grandparenting style? Take the free personality quiz: https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Stay tuned with Connecting Jewish Grandparents: Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog

Parashat Vayera begins with Avraham running to welcome three mysterious guests. He prepares food, creates comfort, sets a table, gives his whole heart. And the angels barely speak in return. This week I share the story of Ana, a grandmother I am coaching. Her son asked on Friday if his family could come for Shabbat. She ran through her house to get everything ready. The cooking, the beds, the toys, the small details. She worked so hard to welcome them, just like Avraham, but she still worried that the connection with her granddaughters was not as strong as she hoped. Most grandparents know this feeling. You give so much. You prepare so carefully. And sometimes the children barely talk. Or seem distracted. Or just float in and out. In this episode I share research from Alison Wood Brooks and her book TALK: The science of conversation and the art of being ourselves. Two simple steps can give grandparents more confidence: choose Topics in advance and ask thoughtful Questions. I will also share my “18 Topics to Open Conversation” resource that I use in Grand Plan coaching. These prompts can help you get your grandkids talking in ways that feel natural and connected. Avraham’s quiet encounter with the angels still changes the future. Small gestures can have huge impact. Your presence and effort matter more than you know. Enjoy Your 18 Questions for Connections Guide → https://grandplan.kit.com/questions Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → What is Grand Plan? Join the Grandparent Circle→ https://bit.ly/GrandPCommunity What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz

In this week’s episode of The Grand Plan Podcast, Sharona explores how a single name can hold generations of meaning. When Avram becomes Avraham, his new name carries a mission, to become a father of many nations. What can this ancient transformation teach us about identity, legacy, and the names we choose and are given, especially as grandparents? Through personal stories, including Sharona’s own “Bubby on the move,” this episode invites you to reflect on how names shape who we are and what we pass on. Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle → bit.ly/GrandPCommunity

What do we choose to carry through life’s storms? In this episode of The Grand Plan, Sharona reflects on Parashat Noach and the role of grandparents in preserving family stories, traditions, and values for the next generation. Discover how the story of Noach teaches resilience, gratitude, and intentional legacy, and learn simple ways to create your own “ark” of love, memory, and connection for your grandchildren. What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Book a Free Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Ready for Coaching? → https://grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → What is Grand Plan? Join the Grandparent Circle→ https://bit.ly/GrandPCommunity

In this episode of Connecting Jewish Grandparents, Sharona explores how the festival of Sukkot teaches us to embrace both struggle and success as essential parts of Jewish legacy. Our greatest family stories aren’t just about comfort or achievement, they’re about overcoming challenges, finding meaning, and passing those lessons on to the next generation. ✨ What struggles in your life have become part of your family’s legacy? ✨ How can grandparents and parents share stories of resilience with children and grandchildren? ✨ Why joy and legacy go hand in hand during Sukkot. 🌿 This year, let your sukkah, and your legacy, be filled with joy, light, and gratitude. 🌟 Ready to shape your legacy with intention? Book a free Legacy Call with Sharona today: https://calendly.com/grandplan What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Learn more about Legacy Coaching → grandplan.kit.com/legacy Learn more about Grand Plan → grandplan.kit.com Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity #Sukkot #JewishPodcast #JewishLegacy #JewishTradition #GrandPlan #ConnectingJewishGrandparents #ZmanSimchateinu #JewishGrandparents

This episode is not just for Grandparents. EVERYONE will benefit from this perspective shift, as we finish Rosh Hashana and face the New Year. Many of us think of teshuva (repentance) as heavy, guilt-filled, or narrowly about fixing our wrongs. But Rav Kook, in his masterwork Orot HaTeshuva (Lights of Repentance), offers a radically different vision: teshuva is the pulse of life itself, a return to our deepest, Divine selves, a universal force of spiritual growth, and a joyful awakening that brings light to the world. In this episode, we’ll discuss: Why Rav Kook saw teshuva as a source of joy, not guilt The personal and cosmic dimensions of return How teshuva connects to family, legacy, and passing on values What it means to see teshuva as a path of hope and creativity  Book a free legacy coaching call with me: https://calendly.com/grandplan The book I referenced: https://a.co/d/fz8IO3e

Preparing yourself for Rosh Hashana!

As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, Judaism invites us to pause and reflect through a practice called Cheshbon HaNefesh (חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁ), literally “soul-accounting.” In this episode of Connecting Jewish Grandparents, Sharona explores how grandparents and parents can use this timeless practice of spiritual reflection and self-inventory to shape their legacy with intention. Together, we’ll ask:  Where have I lived my values this year? ] Where do I want to grow in the year ahead? How can I share this practice with my children and grandchildren? Sharona shares stories, Jewish wisdom, and practical steps for weaving Cheshbon HaNefesh into family life, making it more than just a High Holiday ritual but a legacy of mindfulness and meaning passed across generations. Join the journey of reflection, renewal, and legacy. Ready to make you work on this together? Book a Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Learn more and explore the Joy Kit at https://bit.ly/CirclesJoy What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity #CheshbonHaNefesh #JewishPodcast #RoshHashana #JewishGrandparents #SpiritualReflection #JewishTradition #GrandPlan

How much influence do grandparents really have in their grandchildren’s lives? In this episode of Connecting Jewish Grandparents, Sharona shares her background in Social Work and explores Systems Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Spheres of Influence to reveal how grandparents impact not just the home, but the entire ecosystem surrounding their family. From the microsystem of family rituals and weekly calls, to the macrosystem of Jewish values and traditions, grandparents play a powerful role in shaping identity and legacy. Sharona ties these ideas to her Joy Kit circles, showing how practical, joyful activities can bring theory to life across generations. Whether you’re a grandparent near or far, this episode will inspire you to see your influence as ripple effects of love, values, and presence. Discover how to strengthen your role in your family system while honoring parents, traditions, and community. ✨ Ready to make your circles of influence intentional? Learn more and explore the Joy Kit at https://bit.ly/CirclesJoy What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Book a Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplanLearn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity #JewishGrandparents #JewishLegacy #FamilyHistory #GrandPlan #ConnectingJewishGrandparents #LifeLessons #Heritage #JewishTradition

What does it take to turn love, wisdom, and tradition into a lasting legacy? In this episode of Connecting Jewish Grandparents, Sharona discusses the importance of Grand Plan, forming an intentional legacy that your grandchildren will carry forward for generations. Drawing on over 20 years in Jewish education, Sharona shares why having a plan matters, what steps to include, and how grandparents can overcome common challenges like distance, busyness, or uncertainty. With practical tools, Jewish wisdom, and heartfelt encouragement, she shows how even small, consistent acts of connection become the foundation for continuity. Whether you’re a grandparent or part of the middle generation, this episode will inspire you to begin crafting your own “Grand Plan” for Jewish values, family traditions, and lifelong memories. Start today: Write down 3 values you want to pass on. That’s the beginning of your legacy. Want personal guidance? Book a session with Sharona to design your own Grand Plan. If you’ve ever wondered how to pass down your wisdom, keep traditions alive, and make your mark on the world, this episode is for you. What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Book a Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplanLearn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity #JewishGrandparents #JewishLegacy #FamilyHistory #GrandPlan #ConnectingJewishGrandparents #LifeLessons #Heritage #JewishTradition

What does legacy really mean and how do you shape yours? In this episode, Jewish educator and Grand Plan founder Sharona explores the meaning of legacy beyond money and possessions. From Jewish values and traditions to family stories, life lessons, and meaningful rituals, discover how to create a legacy that will inspire generations. Sharona shares practical tips for identifying your core values, documenting your story, and living your legacy now so your children and grandchildren feel connected to you and to Jewish life. If you’ve ever wondered how to pass down your wisdom, keep traditions alive, and make your mark on the world, this episode is for you. What is your grandparenting personality? Quiz → https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Book a Legacy Planning Call with Sharona → https://calendly.com/grandplan Learn more about Grand Plan → bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity #JewishGrandparents #JewishLegacy #FamilyHistory #GrandPlan #ConnectingJewishGrandparents #LifeLessons #Heritage #JewishTradition

How do you make intergenerational connections that actually stick? In this episode of Grand Plan, we explore the secret glue behind lasting relationships between Jewish grandparents and their grandchildren is consistency and content. We explored consistency in episode 4. Today we explore the need for content! Whether you're a grandparent or part of the middle generation, you'll learn: The three types of connections Why consistency alone isn't enough How content in consistent ways creates deep bonds The surprising psychology behind lasting Jewish family connection Want more Planned Connections? Visit the Grand Plan Website: The Grand Plan Page Join the Grandparent Circle: Grandparents Circle Want to discover your Jewish Grandparenting style? Take the free personality quiz:  https://bit.ly/Grandparentquiz Enjoy more episodes: Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog #JewishGrandparents #FamilyConnection #GrandPlan #JewishLegacy #IntergenerationalConnection #GrandparentingTips #JewishParenting #LdorVdor

After more than 20 years as a groundbreaking leader in Jewish education, Sharona reveals what truly moves the needle for Jewish continuity and it’s not another classroom program. It’s grandparents! In this energizing episode, Sharona shares the story behind her most impactful educational model, one that brought together kids, parents, and grandparents around Jewish holidays in a way that stuck. She explains why grandparents are uniquely positioned to transmit values, inspire meaning, and bring joy to Jewish life often in ways parents simply can't. Get inspired to step into your role with confidence, creativity, and connection and hear why Grand Plan may be the missing piece in your family’s Jewish journey. 🎧 Listen to The Grand Plan Podcast and rediscover your role in shaping legacy, love, and learning across generations. Enjoy more episodes: Spotify: bit.ly/JewishPodcast Apple: bit.ly/JewishGrandApple YouTube: bit.ly/GrandPlanVlog Learn more: bit.ly/GrandPland Join the Grandparent Circle: bit.ly/GrandPCommunity